Jonathan Isaac

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Patriotism is a crock. I was coerced during my indoctrination process to pledge allegiance to a silly flag a few thousand times. Got to get them when they are young and malleable.

I'm sure I'll regret asking you this, but why is patriotism a "crock" to you?

That "silly" flag might look like a piece cloth to you, but to many others it represents a country that their brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, sons and daughters, etc. all fought for with many lives being upended or killed. To others it represents their escape from a country that was less fortunate and likely more threatening than the United States with many less freedoms. And lastly that "silly" flag stands as a constant symbol of hope for a better tomorrow to those throughout this country and many others. Hope that many other individuals don't have and never will.

You obviously feel differently and that's totally fine. I would caution against disrespecting the idea of patriotism and any symbols of this nation, though. What it means to you and what it means to others is likely very different and what you feel is not what they feel for very real reasons. Reasons that you should not spit on with words like "silly."

[Wolvesfan21]

Patriotism is a crock. I was coerced during my indoctrination process to pledge allegiance to a silly flag a few thousand times. Got to get them when they are young and malleable.

I'm sure I'll regret asking you this, but why is patriotism a "crock" to you?

That "silly" flag might look like a piece cloth to you, but to many others it represents a country that their brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, sons and daughters, etc. all fought for with many lives being upended or killed. To others it represents their escape from a country that was less fortunate and likely more threatening than the United States with many less freedoms. And lastly that "silly" flag stands as a constant symbol of hope for a better tomorrow to those throughout this country and many others. Hope that many other individuals don't have and never will.

You obviously feel differently and that's totally fine. I would caution against disrespecting the idea of patriotism and any symbols of this nation, though. What it means to you and what it means to others is likely very different and what you feel is not what they feel for very real reasons. Reasons that you should not spit on with words like "silly."

-The U.S. imprisons the highest percentage of people in the world most when no victim is found. For instance the War on Drugs, which has put people in prison for life for selling a product people want.
-Taxes at one of the highest in the world in order to keeping us Serfs perpetually working and poor
-The U.S. has killed MORE people in other Countries then ANY other since WW2, mostly done to overtake those Countries and steal resources. Spends at least 10 times more on Military then any other Country every year. Almost a TRILLION a year. War is a Racket, read the book. U.S. has been at War for 222 out of 236 years. A true killing war machine.

So sorry if I don't support killing the most people in the World, imprisoning the most people in the World and keeping the population enslaved through tyrannical taxes and the ponzi scheme for a monetary system.

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html#c1

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks...will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.... The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." - Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809)

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." -Thomas Jefferson

"Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal - that there is no human relation between master and slave." Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer.

"It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and money system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company.

Woodrow Wilson signed the 1913 Federal Reserve Act. A few years later he wrote: "I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." -Woodrow Wilson

This is just a smidgen of information by the way. I could list years and years worth of books, research and declassified information.

[thedoper]

It seems like just yesterday standing for the national anthem wasn't controversial. It was an act of patriotism and more routine than not. Fast forward to right now and somehow it's seen as the odd or unpopular thing to do where reporters are asking why a person did such a thing.

Do we see how insane that is...

I agree. I cant believe Jonathan Issac, a black man, who heads a mostly black church, and does great community work for black people, was first asked after the game "Do you believe Black Lives Matter?" by reporters from the same media outlets which years before feigned outrage at Kapernick taking a knee. The media is mental and our world has gone batshit crazy.

[Coolbreeze44]

Few things scare me as much as the media does today. The agendas and lack of objectivity tear apart the fiber of what this nation once was. Remember the old Soviet news agency TASS? Never thought that could happen here? Take a closer look.

[Monster]

Few things scare me as much as the media does today. The agendas and lack of objectivity tear apart the fiber of what this nation once was. Remember the old Soviet news agency TASS? Never thought that could happen here? Take a closer look.

Could you tell me what makes you so frightened about this instance with the media and Isaac?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Patriotism is a crock. I was coerced during my indoctrination process to pledge allegiance to a silly flag a few thousand times. Got to get them when they are young and malleable.

I'm sure I'll regret asking you this, but why is patriotism a "crock" to you?

That "silly" flag might look like a piece cloth to you, but to many others it represents a country that their brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, sons and daughters, etc. all fought for with many lives being upended or killed. To others it represents their escape from a country that was less fortunate and likely more threatening than the United States with many less freedoms. And lastly that "silly" flag stands as a constant symbol of hope for a better tomorrow to those throughout this country and many others. Hope that many other individuals don't have and never will.

You obviously feel differently and that's totally fine. I would caution against disrespecting the idea of patriotism and any symbols of this nation, though. What it means to you and what it means to others is likely very different and what you feel is not what they feel for very real reasons. Reasons that you should not spit on with words like "silly."

-The U.S. imprisons the highest percentage of people in the world most when no victim is found. For instance the War on Drugs, which has put people in prison for life for selling a product people want.
-Taxes at one of the highest in the world in order to keeping us Serfs perpetually working and poor
-The U.S. has killed MORE people in other Countries then ANY other since WW2, mostly done to overtake those Countries and steal resources. Spends at least 10 times more on Military then any other Country every year. Almost a TRILLION a year. War is a Racket, read the book. U.S. has been at War for 222 out of 236 years. A true killing war machine.

So sorry if I don't support killing the most people in the World, imprisoning the most people in the World and keeping the population enslaved through tyrannical taxes and the ponzi scheme for a monetary system.

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html#c1

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks...will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.... The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." - Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809)

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." -Thomas Jefferson

"Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal - that there is no human relation between master and slave." Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer.

"It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and money system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company.

Woodrow Wilson signed the 1913 Federal Reserve Act. A few years later he wrote: "I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." -Woodrow Wilson

This is just a smidgen of information by the way. I could list years and years worth of books, research and declassified information.

Okay, that didn't quite answer my question, but the effort is appreciated nonetheless. So, if you believe America is as awful as you say it is, then what makes you feel like residing here? Why not depart to some other country that must be much more suitable to your liking? I mean, this country through your eyes just isn't worth living in. There must be a better place for WolvesFan21 to live and raise a family than the United States.

Or perhaps you enjoy all of your freedoms and equal opportunity here. Hmm... That might be it. Yep.

[Lipoli390]

Patriotism is a crock. I was coerced during my indoctrination process to pledge allegiance to a silly flag a few thousand times. Got to get them when they are young and malleable.

I'm sure I'll regret asking you this, but why is patriotism a "crock" to you?

That "silly" flag might look like a piece cloth to you, but to many others it represents a country that their brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, sons and daughters, etc. all fought for with many lives being upended or killed. To others it represents their escape from a country that was less fortunate and likely more threatening than the United States with many less freedoms. And lastly that "silly" flag stands as a constant symbol of hope for a better tomorrow to those throughout this country and many others. Hope that many other individuals don't have and never will.

You obviously feel differently and that's totally fine. I would caution against disrespecting the idea of patriotism and any symbols of this nation, though. What it means to you and what it means to others is likely very different and what you feel is not what they feel for very real reasons. Reasons that you should not spit on with words like "silly."

-The U.S. imprisons the highest percentage of people in the world most when no victim is found. For instance the War on Drugs, which has put people in prison for life for selling a product people want.
-Taxes at one of the highest in the world in order to keeping us Serfs perpetually working and poor
-The U.S. has killed MORE people in other Countries then ANY other since WW2, mostly done to overtake those Countries and steal resources. Spends at least 10 times more on Military then any other Country every year. Almost a TRILLION a year. War is a Racket, read the book. U.S. has been at War for 222 out of 236 years. A true killing war machine.

So sorry if I don't support killing the most people in the World, imprisoning the most people in the World and keeping the population enslaved through tyrannical taxes and the ponzi scheme for a monetary system.

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html#c1

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks...will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.... The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." - Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809)

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." -Thomas Jefferson

"Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal - that there is no human relation between master and slave." Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer.

"It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and money system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company.

Woodrow Wilson signed the 1913 Federal Reserve Act. A few years later he wrote: "I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." -Woodrow Wilson

This is just a smidgen of information by the way. I could list years and years worth of books, research and declassified information.

Okay, that didn't quite answer my question, but the effort is appreciated nonetheless. So, if you believe America is as awful as you say it is, then what makes you feel like residing here? Why not depart to some other country that must be much more suitable to your liking? I mean, this country through your eyes just isn't worth living in. There must be a better place for WolvesFan21 to live and raise a family than the United States.

Or perhaps you enjoy all of your freedoms and equal opportunity here. Hmm... That might be it. Yep.

My wife grew up in China. She could provide WolvesFan21 with a vivid description of true political oppression. Even today, in a more liberal China than the one my wife grew up in, few would dare publicly criticize the Chinese government in an Internet post. A good friend from India is fond of saying that Americans have no idea what true inequality is if they haven't been to India. My grandparents immigrated from Lithuania as 19 year olds, fleeing poverty and oppression. They had no money and no education when they arrived and life was difficult. But they were thankful for the opportunities this Country gave them until they passed away. American has its share of problems. There's a widening gap between rich and poor and racial bigotry remains far too prevalent in this Country. But we would all benefit from a little more perspective and a lot less hyperbole.

[Monster]

Patriotism is a crock. I was coerced during my indoctrination process to pledge allegiance to a silly flag a few thousand times. Got to get them when they are young and malleable.

I'm sure I'll regret asking you this, but why is patriotism a "crock" to you?

That "silly" flag might look like a piece cloth to you, but to many others it represents a country that their brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, sons and daughters, etc. all fought for with many lives being upended or killed. To others it represents their escape from a country that was less fortunate and likely more threatening than the United States with many less freedoms. And lastly that "silly" flag stands as a constant symbol of hope for a better tomorrow to those throughout this country and many others. Hope that many other individuals don't have and never will.

You obviously feel differently and that's totally fine. I would caution against disrespecting the idea of patriotism and any symbols of this nation, though. What it means to you and what it means to others is likely very different and what you feel is not what they feel for very real reasons. Reasons that you should not spit on with words like "silly."

-The U.S. imprisons the highest percentage of people in the world most when no victim is found. For instance the War on Drugs, which has put people in prison for life for selling a product people want.
-Taxes at one of the highest in the world in order to keeping us Serfs perpetually working and poor
-The U.S. has killed MORE people in other Countries then ANY other since WW2, mostly done to overtake those Countries and steal resources. Spends at least 10 times more on Military then any other Country every year. Almost a TRILLION a year. War is a Racket, read the book. U.S. has been at War for 222 out of 236 years. A true killing war machine.

So sorry if I don't support killing the most people in the World, imprisoning the most people in the World and keeping the population enslaved through tyrannical taxes and the ponzi scheme for a monetary system.

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html#c1

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks...will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.... The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." - Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809)

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies." -Thomas Jefferson

"Money is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal - that there is no human relation between master and slave." Leo Tolstoy, Russian writer.

"It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and money system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company.

Woodrow Wilson signed the 1913 Federal Reserve Act. A few years later he wrote: "I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Governments in the civilized world no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men." -Woodrow Wilson

This is just a smidgen of information by the way. I could list years and years worth of books, research and declassified information.

Okay, that didn't quite answer my question, but the effort is appreciated nonetheless. So, if you believe America is as awful as you say it is, then what makes you feel like residing here? Why not depart to some other country that must be much more suitable to your liking? I mean, this country through your eyes just isn't worth living in. There must be a better place for WolvesFan21 to live and raise a family than the United States.

Or perhaps you enjoy all of your freedoms and equal opportunity here. Hmm... That might be it. Yep.

My wife grew up in China. She could provide WolvesFan21 with a vivid description of true political oppression. Even today, in a more liberal China than the one my wife grew up in, few would dare publicly criticize the Chinese government in an Internet post. A good friend from India is fond of saying that Americans have no idea what true inequality is if they haven't been to India. My grandparents immigrated from Lithuania as 19 year olds, fleeing poverty and oppression. They had no money and no education when they arrived and life was difficult. But they were thankful for the opportunities this Country gave them until they passed away. American has its share of problems. There's a widening gap between rich and poor and racial bigotry remains far too prevalent in this Country. But we would all benefit from a little more perspective and a lot less hyperbole.

There certainly are positive things about this country. I don't want to settle for just being better than...whatever country. How many people are satisfied with mediocrity for this basketball team? People want excellence I want that for our country too. Are there countries better than us? Why?

Here is maybe a bit of a different perspective...last week I was at an event and heard a patriotic song and honestly my reaction after recently reading quite a bit of history of our country and knowing personal stories about what people still go through today...singing about freedom did ring a little hollow. Is there a chance to fight in some way for freedom now? Is fighting oppression patriotic?

[AbeVigodaLive]

Few things scare me as much as the media does today. The agendas and lack of objectivity tear apart the fiber of what this nation once was. Remember the old Soviet news agency TASS? Never thought that could happen here? Take a closer look.

The media has bias. The media has problems. The media are run by rich, powerful men. But the media are not quite the boogeymen that we're led to believe by a unrepentant, perpetual liar... to where we should be throwing out legitimate news stories because of a few questionable narratives.

The media is a problem. But it's not THE problem that we're being led to believe it is by a man who has marketed the media as such for his own self-serving ways. It's been a brilliant strategy by an absolutely genius-level branding wizard.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Few things scare me as much as the media does today. The agendas and lack of objectivity tear apart the fiber of what this nation once was. Remember the old Soviet news agency TASS? Never thought that could happen here? Take a closer look.

The media has bias. The media has problems. The media are run by rich, powerful men. But the media are not quite the boogeymen that we're led to believe by a unrepentant, perpetual liar... to where we should be throwing out legitimate news stories because of a few questionable narratives.

The media is a problem. But it's not THE problem that we're being led to believe it is by a man who has marketed the media as such for his own self-serving ways. It's been a brilliant strategy by an absolutely genius-level branding wizard.

The Trump presidency will come and go, whereas the media existed before and after. The problem is that a lot of the media has an institutionalized bias that happens to go in one direction, which is what originally led to the more blatant partisan platform known as Fox News. Fox News would not have been as wildly successful as it has been over the past 20+ years if it had not been for the biased journalism of everywhere else. There was literally nowhere for conservatives to go. Now Fox has become a bit of a caricature unfortunately, but so has MSNBC, CNN, etc.

There are literally only two truly national platforms that offer anything other than a liberal bias - Fox News and the Wall Street Journal opinion section. Literally every other national news platform - the NBC family of channels; NY Times; CNN; NPR; Washington Post; I could go on.....have a liberal bias in what they cover and how they cover it.

Unfortunately, while many of these places were always biased, they at least had some level of standards. The problem in the Trump years has been that many have been so hell-bent on bringing him down, that they have tossed out journalistic standards of objectivity.